Vocal pitch finder



Nov. 13, 1962 R. E. GREIDER 3,063,328

VOCAL PITCH FINDER Filed May 18. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

Nov. 13, 1962 R. E. GREIDER 3,0

VOCAL PITCH FINDER Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

wo (5? wwzzw United States Patent 3,063,328 VGCAL PITCH FINDER Roger E. Greider,1123 E. 20thSt;,.Tulsa, Okla. Filed May 18, 1959,-Ser. No. 813,717 2 Claims. (Cl. 84402) This invention relates to apparatus for obtaining musical pitch. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus which produces a desired pitch, heardionly by the operator or selected individuals.

Broadly speaking, the apparatus of this invention includes an instrument which is capable of producing a variety of musical notesor pitches. The invention further includes apparatus which will transmit these musical notes to an ear pieceheld by therecipient.

Ordinarily, before a choral group begins to sing a musical score, a pitch device isused by song leaders, vocalists, and others inorder to cue the first note properly. Heretofore the songleaders: and others have used tuning forks, whistles, or pitch pipes to secure this. In most instances, when such pitch note is given, it can be heard by others in the immediate area.

The problem of the proper pitch is more prevalent during the rehearsal of new music, and when choral music is unaccompanied; that is, a capella. Much time is spent in rehearsal with the director and/ or accompanist giving pitches to individual choir members to correct pitches that in most instances are unknowingly produced incorrectly.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a tuning or pitch instrument which overcomes the objections to prior devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a musical pitch instrument which gives the proper musical pitch to an individual without disturbing others in the choral group and without knowledge to an audience.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a musical pitch instrument which may be conveniently carried and operated without noticeable attention.

It is still a further object of this invention to disclose a musical pitch instrument which produces a variety of musical notes.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from the specifications and claims when taken in conjunction with the following illustrations of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cut-away perspective view of the apparatus.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a typical method of installing the pitch tines to the sounding plate.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the apparatus showing a keyboard arrangement.

Description Referring now to FIGURE 1, represents a typical outer covering for the apparatus of this invention, including top panel 12. The covering is formed as a unit from materials such as synthetic resins. The covering 10 is tapered as shown in order that openings 14 and 16 will allow the corresponding pitch tines 18 to be strummed by the operator. Extending from the cover is connecting cord 20 and ear receiver 22. Typically, headphone or earpiece cord 20 is a copper inner conductor interwoven with a fabric material for flexibility. Ear receiver 22 is a typical high sensitivity apparatus such as crystal receiver as used in portable radio equipment. The receiver is adapted with suitable clips, etc., for attachment to the ear of the operator.

In the cut away perspective view of FIGURE 2, the operational apparatus of this invention is more aptly described. Covering 10 is attached by a close fit or locking arrangement to bottom panel' 11. Musical pitch tines 18 and 19 are attached to a sounding plate30 which rests in a sponge rubber vibration dampening material 32. Accordingly, vibration from pitch tines 18 and19' are transmitted directly to vibrational sensitive pickup 36, This pickup is typically a ceramic cartridge similar to that used in a phonograph reproduction apparatus. By mounting sounding plate 30 on cushion'material 32, vibrational waves created in the sounding plate 30. are not transmitted to the air surrounding the instrument. Pickup 36 is mechanically affixed to plate 30 by attachmentto extension member 35 usingthreaded member 37.

Pitch tines 18 are mechanically afiixed to sounding plate 30, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 along one edge. Sounding plate 30 is a thin mild steel material, having preformed and spaced openings 40 ofdiameter approximately equal to the diameter of the pitch tine 18 to be inserted therein. A pitch tine is placed therein and crimped at 42 as shown in FIGURE 4. In this manner a strong mechanical connection is made between pitch tine 18 and sounding plate 30 without welding or soldering. The pitch tines are formed of' hardened steel wire, such as piano wire and extend vertically upward from sounding plate 30. They are thereafter tuned by ear or instrument by cutting the tine to its proper length in accordance with well known vibrational physics. That is, the longer the pitch tine extends from sounding plate 30, the lower the frequency of natural vibration. The vibration frequency is matched with the appropriate key or pitch desired. The tines typically range in frequency corresponding to that of an octave of vibrational energy. Pitch tines 19, formed on the other edge of sounding plate 30, correspond to appropriate sharps and flats of the pitch scale for one octave.

FIGURE 5 represents a typical view of the top portion 12 in which the pitch notes are correspondingly indicated in black and white like the keys of a piano.

In one embodiment openings 14 and 16 in the top cover 12 may be slightly dished so that the opening actually exists slightly lower than the plane of the cover and prevents accidental strumming of tines 18 and 19.

Operation In a typical operation the pitch finder of this invention is designed to allow a singer to find the correct musical note or pitch. The apparatus may be clipped to the music folder or stand in any well known manner with the ear portion 22 suitably attached adjacent the operator or singers ear. By plucking or strumming the appropriate tine, vibrational energy is set up in the pickup device and transferred to ear receiver 22, The pitch can be heard only by the operator, and will not produce sounds which will interfere with the music or disturb adjacent singers. Pickup device 36 converts the mechanical vibration to electrical impulses where they are reconverted to mechanical-air vibrations within the ear receiver.

The invention has been described with reference to specific and preferred embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, one or more hook up cord and ear receiver members may be attached to the pickup apparatus 36 and used by a multiplicity of persons. Accordingly, this invention should be construed not to be limited to the embodiment herein described, but should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vocal pitch apparatus comprising,

a support and panel cover,

a vibration transmitting plate separated from said support and cover by vibration absorbing material,

a multiplicity of metallic tines affixed to said plate substantially along parallel edges, each of said tines representing one approximate musical pitch for each note in an octave, said tines vertically extending from said plate in decreasing length from one end to another,

a vibration sensitive pickup aflixed to said plate to create electrical signals corresponding to said note,

an ear receiver connected to said pickup to convert said electrical signal to an audible signal,

said panel cover including a top cover tapering substantially parallel to a plane formed by the tops of said tines,

said top cover having access openings substantially coaxial to each of said tines whereby said tines can be strummed.

2. A vocal pitch apparatus comprising,

a support,

a vibration dampening material thereon,

a vibration responsive plate on said dampening mate rial,

a multiplicity of tines aflixed to said plate, said tines extending from said plate substantially vertically to a length such that when strummed the vibrational frequency of each of said tines corresponds with a given musical pitch vibration frequency according to said length,

a vibration sensitive pickup afiixed to said plate, said pickup to create electrical signals corresponding to said frequency,

an ear receiver connected to said pickup to convert said electrical signal to an audible signal,

a top cover for said apparatus attachable to said support and tapering substantially parallel to a plane formed by the tops of said tines,

said cover having access openings substantially coaxial to each of said tines whereby said tines can be strurnmed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,775 Brown Dec. 2, 1902 906,608 Bryant Dec. 15, 1908 1,127,908 McCallie Feb. 9, 1915 2,414,886 Miessner Jan. 28, 1947 2,458,875 Pfeiffer Jan. 11, 1949 2,723,583 Norris Nov. '15, 1955 2,779,920 Petroif Jan. 29, 1957 2,919,616 Miessner Jan. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,171,873 France Oct. 6, 1958 

